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472 West End Avenue, New York, January 20, 1917 Henry C. Frick Esq New York Dear Mr. Frick:- Following our conversation on Thursday over the phone anent Duveen's bulldozing attitude toward me in regard to my opinion given to you upon the bust in marble they sent to you as of "Mlle La Clairon by Houdon", when you advised me to take no further notice of them or of their letters and I told you I would send you a copy of the letter I wrote to them in reply to their abusive and threatening one of the 13th instant I now give it to you. (Copy) 472 West End Avenue New York, Jany.15, 1917 Duveen Brothers New York Sirs;- Setting aside the abusive and threatening character of your letter of the 13th I wish to say that I approach all questions of art that are presented to me, with a perfectly open mind and am always glad to learn facts that throw new light upon any such subjects. This you offer to me in the shape of the Gabriel de Saint Aubin illustrated catalogue of the Salon of 1777, that I much want to see as also the photograph of the bust with M. Vitry's endorsement. The absurdity of your puerile charge of maliciousness and intention to wilfully injure you, is answered by the facts I do not know you, have never met or seen you, or had anything to do with you or for you, and did not know you had anything to do with Mr. Frick's bust until after I had seen it and written my opinion upon it to Mr. Frick; as I learned that Mr. Frick had the bust from the American Art News which stated that Mr Frick had gotten it from Mr. Edward Brandus, of Gimpel & Wildenstein, and it was only when Mr. Frick asked my permission to send you a copy of my opinion, did I know you had anything to do with the bust in question. To inform myself I will call at your place of business on Wednesday, the 17th inst, at three (3) P.M. to inspect the documents you offer to show to me. Yours truly (signed) C.H. Hart To confirm our conversation I will repeat that I went to the Duveen's establishment as I appointed on Wednesday, the 17th, at 3 P.M. and was shown a facsimile reproduction of Gabriel de Saint Aubin's illustrated salon catalogue of 1777 and M. Vitry's endorsement upon a photograph, 10 x 12 inches, of the marble bust in question. There were two questions arising in regard to the bust upon both of which the Duveens took the affirmative. (1) Is the bust one of the Mlle La Clairon? (2) Is the marble the work of Houdon? In Duveen's communication to me of Jany. 13th they are silent upon the first question leaving it to be assumed that there was no question as to the correctness of their [H.365.027]